The British hopeful Harriet Dart is being whipped by Maria Sharapova without first winning a match in the first round of Australian Open

Dart followed the Brit Heather Watson from the Australian Open on the first day

By

James Dutton for mailonline

Published: 01:24, January 14, 2019

| updated: 01:43, January 14, 2019

Harriet Dart received a brutal lesson from Maria Sharapova after being thrown into the pit for her debut in the Australian main game.

The 22-year-old Londoner, who went through the qualifier, got the dreaded & # 39; double bagel & # 39; when she went 6-0, 6-0 to the former world No. 1 in 63 minutes.

Heather Watson then quickly left the exit and dropped 6-1, 6-2 to Petra Martic in just 64 minutes, starting a little earlier.

Maria Sharapova waves to the crowd after only 63 minutes to beat Harriet Dart

The five-time Grand Slam champion is ahead of the court in her victory over Dart

With temperatures fast on the way to the 90s, Dart was one of the seven British attackers in action on the first day, with the three women first dropping out for Dan Evans, Kyle Edmund, Cameron Norrie and, of course, Andy Murray.

Dart came through the qualifying match, but the lack of strength on her service would always be revealed by such a formidable returning person as the Russian, and it turned out.

It was a heavy baptism in the Rod Rod Arena of Melbourne Park, a totally new territory for her.

The backhand of the Middlesex player is a good shot and she was competitive in the rallies, but mostly from a point of weakness while Sharapova trampled her serve.

Dart got the advantage of seven double mistakes from her opponent and threatened to break a few times, but the gap in class and experience was all too clear.

It will show her at least the improvement that will be needed if she goes on to the top 100 in the world, but she seemed emotionally when she reached the end of the job.

The gradual development in Watson's career continues and she could not impress the 31st seed from Croatia, which offered little resistance when she became the first player to leave the 2019 tournament.

Without arresting her decline, leaving her out of the top 100, the Guernsey player will not be able to make direct headings to Grand Slam and only make them marginal.